Compare towns
Norwich vs Putnam vs Sprague
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Norwich has the most kids (20.9% under 18).
Putnam has the most people working from home (9%).
Sprague has the highest household income ($93k).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Norwich | Putnam | Sprague |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 39,973Highest |
9,292 |
2,962Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 38.5±1.7Lowest 6% below CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
48.5±10.7Highest 18% above CT |
| Sprague and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±1.8Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
17.1%±5.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Norwich and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
19.9%±3.9Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Sprague and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.1%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20% CT: 42.5% |
19.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
0.6%±0.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Norwich and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $65,024±$5kLowest 32% below CT |
$70,561±$7k 26% below CT |
$92,850±$11kHighest 3% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,300±$11kLowest 34% below CT |
$269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
$273,500±$17kHighest 25% below CT |
| Sprague and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,253±$68Highest 16% below CT |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
$1,247±$144 16% below CT |
| Norwich and Sprague are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,703Highest 29% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$4,668 30% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.2%±7.2Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
26.9%±12.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Norwich and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.7%Highest CT: 10% |
11.5% CT: 10% |
8.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
59.8% CT: 66.5% |
67.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 10 yrs older than CT |
1961Highest 6 yrs older than CT |
1959 8 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
30 minHighest 12% above CT |
| Work from home | 7.2%±2 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Highest CT: 16% |
5%±2.9Lowest CT: 16% |
| Putnam and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #133 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | #141 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Norwich School District | Putnam School District | Sprague School District |
| High school in town | Norwich Free Academy | Putnam High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
9.5Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
CT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.